Army major, wife plead not guilty to child abuse

May. 9, 2013 - 01:49PM
|

John Jackson, left, and his wife, Carolyn Jackson, of Mount Holly, N.J., walk out of Martin Luther King Jr. Courthouse on May 9 in Newark, N.J. The Army major and his wife pleaded not guilty to abusing their foster children. Each remains free on $250,000 bail, charged with endangerment, assault and conspiracy. (Julio Cortez / AP)

NEWARK, N.J. — An Army major and his wife have pleaded not guilty to charges of abusing their foster children.

John and Carolyn Jackson of Mount Holly appeared in federal court Thursday in Newark. Each remains free on $250,000 bail, charged with endangerment, assault and conspiracy.

The two are accused of abusing their three foster children with disciplinary measures that included assault, withholding food and water, and forcing the children to eat hot sauce. Bones were also broken.

Prosecutors say the couple told their three biological children that they were “training” the foster children to behave and instructed the biological children not to tell anyone.

Prosecutors say the alleged crimes took place in 2010 while the family was living at the Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway Township.